Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1917 — Uncle Sam’s Children's Bureau [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Uncle Sam’s Children's Bureau

by Edward B.Clark

Hdfo the government has 1 taken up the task of im~ J proving living conditipns I for boys and girls in all JL parts of the country—

f'ASHINGTON.— In one sense at least the United States government is p a t e r n a 1. There have been objections, political, economic, and perhaps sentimental to giving Uncle Sam paternalistic powers along many lines of legislation for the public need, but little objection was raised to giving our great and good Uncle the power through the children’s bureau to look after tlie interests of the little ones of the country. Julia C. Lathrop, who for a long time was interested in beneficent work in a great social center in the city- of f’htcugo, was appointed by President Taft as chief of the children’s bureau, which is an Integral part of the department of labor. The law relating ‘to the bureau is simple and short in its phraseology, but It i» all inclusive. It makes it the duty of the children’s bureau to investigate and report upon all matters jiertaining to the welfare of children. The children’s field is broad. It includes virtually everything which can tend toward and promote a policy which has for its object the securing of good citizenship for the United States. It is an old saying and the flippant would call it bromidlc, but “as the twig is bent the tree Is inclined.” In the last report on the work of the bureau made by Miss Lathrop the questions are asked, ““Why are there so many deaths among country babies and country mothers?” and “What should the federal government do about it?” Recently studies of maternal and child welfare have been undertaken in rural communities for the first time. It is said that they are more Inclusive than the city studies of infant mortality, and that the method of approach necessarily has been different, although, of course, the primary purpose is identical. The desire has been -tosecurea statement of the social and economic factors which affect infant welfare. In addition, the work is so planned as to secure information concerning maternal welfare and the welfare of children under school age and to bring out certain facts relating to all the children in the family. The cost of carrying on these studies in country areas, has beeh much greater than in thickly populated towns. The children’s bureau takes cognizance of the argument sometimes brought forward against the importance of studies in rural communities, that the death rate of children in the country is lower than the death rate for city communities. There is a general belief that rural conditions are more favorable to the health of children than city conditions. But Miss Lathrop asks If we can afford to rest contented in this belief —even if it appears to be confirmed by figures of the census tables—without Intensive study of rural conditions. It has been shown conclusively by investigation that in certain parts of the cities of the country the death fate among infants is very much lower than the death rate among infants in many of the country districts. Today state and other public agencies are seeking the co-operation of the children’s bureau and are urging rural studies. This co-operation the United States government believes is highly desirable and it will be given as rapidly rfs the bureau’s resources permit. *Tt may well be said that such co-opera-tion will lead to permanent local centers of maternal and child welfare and to better local provision for all the needs of growing children. In any case such rural studies as the bureau has under way and desires to develop further cannot fail to throw some light on the question raised in regard to the welfare of rural children, nor can these studies fall to aid in making clear the Imperative need of Iflaislng the level of maternal and infant care.” A summary has just been prepared by the children’s bureau of Miss LaffiropTreport as if affects the welfare of children and mothers,in the countrydistricts. This summary follows the two, questions which already have been given, but which here are repeated: “Why are there so many deaths among country babies and country mothers?” and "What should the federal government do about.lt?" The census figures show a markedly high death rate among country women of child-bearing age for which a large number of preventable deaths from maternal causes appears to be responsible. It is estimated that more than

15,000 women die year by year in the United States from conditions incident to maternity, while the extent of unnecessary ill health is at present unknown. “The sickness or death of a mother inevitably lessens the chances of her baby for life and health, and it is plain that the question of maternal care in rural districts is of genuine public interest.” ... An argument for better care of rural childhood is based on the higffr percentage of physical defects among children in rural schools given In reports of state boards of health. Miss Lathrop concludes: “These comparisons are a strong indication that there is room for great permanent improvement In maternal and child-welfare work in rural districts, • The day when all rural children shall be well born and well cared for Is far ahead, but surely that day should dawn first for 7Ke~countfy."""7 ~ '. In connection with the bureau's rural studies a child hygiene expert holds a children’s health conference, to which parents bring their children for examination and advice about daily care I but not for medical diagnosis or treatment). Parents have shown great eagerness for this kind of help in the counties already' visited, "bringing their children often long distances, over bad roads, and even sacrificing farmwork for the journey. State and other local officials are urging the bureau to co-operate with them in similar studies and demonstrations in many states, and a number of rural units to extend their work are among the items for which the bureau asks a larger staff and appropriation. Miss Lathrop believes that such federal studies, making plain the necessity and suggesting a inethod are bound to lead toward adequate local provision for maternal and child welfare. The children’s bureau has prepared 1 many publications concerning the general questions of child welfare. They will be sent free of charge to parents and to others who are interested Tn the subject. There are several series of these publications. They concern themselves with virtually every phase of the great subject to which it Is the bureau’s duty to give Its consideration. It is possible that few persons have an adequate knowledge of the breadth of the work which the children’s bureau is undertaking. It has within its scope of study, suggestion and action not only the care of babies and of children of a little larger growth, but of mothers before and after the births of their children; of feeble-minded children; of training-school efforts; of labor problems; and, in fact, of everything which will tend to conserve the life, mentality, physique and happiness of the little folk of the United States. Comparatively recently the children’s bureau started out on what it calls “Baby-week campaigns.” “Baby weeks” have been held recently In many of the large cities of the country. These “weeks” Can be held Successfully in communities of all sizes. The form that they take, however, will vary greatly In different places. As Miss Lathrop says, “A rural community will not. wish to carry out the elaborate program which will seem necessary in a big city to reach the people. On the other hand, many large cities may hot be ready at a certain time to carry on an elaborate program which will demand considerable expense and the constant labor of many people, but may be anxious, nevertheless, to bring the subject of babies to the attention

of the public to an extent which will achieve substantial results.” There have been “Baby weeks” held In New York, Pittsburgh, Washington and many of the other large cities of the country. They have been uniformly successful. The object of the “Baby week” campaigns is to give the parents of the community the opportunity to learn‘the facts with regard to the care of their babies; second, to make known to the community the importance of its babies, the special facts relating to the babies of the community, and the need of permanent work for their welfare. A pamphlet published by the children’s bureau called “Baby Week Campaigns” contains minute instructions concerning the’methods of starting the “Baby weeks” and of conducting them in communities of various sizes. This pamphlet of suggestion can be had upon application to thebureSU Hr Washington. The children’s bureau concerns itself with the maternity side of the great work which it has In hand. “Remember the mothers. Well-cared-for, healthy mothers are necessary foi“the health and happiness of their babies. Find out what your community is doing to insure to every mother skilled advice and adequate care before her baby Is born and during her confinement. and give the importance of protecting the mother a permanent place in the educational work of the campaign.” Recently congress passed a childlabor law which places a heavy penalty upon the introduction Into interstate commerce of goods made or prepared in factories where little children are employed. The question of child labor has been a crucial one for many years. Congress was asked time and again to pass a law which would protect the little ones compelled by their parents or by the very force of hard circumstances to work before their strength could bear the hardship of toil. The children’s bureau has for one of Its concerns the safeguarding of American children from the evils of hard, confining employment while they are of tender years. When the real basis of things is reached, the high death rate among infants is an appalling picture. Perhaps It would not be too much to say that to reduce the awful rate of infant mortality in this country is the highest aim of Unple Sam’s children’s bureau. The question of infant mortality In urban and suburban regions is discussed at length in pamphlets Issued by the bureau. It is almost a platitude to say that the citizenship of the country depends upon the welfare of its children. The United States wants its children to be healthy, morally and physically. The government takes it for granted, doubtless, that Its desire is the desire of all parents. The wish is to help the parents and all others In the work of safeguarding the little ones of these United States. —■